Edmond Man Arrested For Stealing More Than 2.5 Million In Oil Field Equipment

An Edmond man is arrested after stealing more than $2.5 million worth of oil field equipment.

Friday morning, the OSBI Oil Field Theft Unit arrested 69-year-old Craig Lario Bates, at his home at 1401 Eagle Drive in Edmond.

Bates was arrested on four counts of receiving and concealing stolen construction and farm equipment.

The investigation began in 2013 when agents discovered oil field equipment being stolen from Oklahoma, Texas, and Kansas. In August of that year, agents served a search warrant at Bates' business, where they recovered more than $2.5 million worth of oil field equipment.

Agents continued to work to find more evidence to link any others involved in the crime. But, no other arrested have been made at this time.